Nashik India Travel Guide

Nashik History

Lying on the banks of the Godavari River, in northwestern Maharashtra, is the epic city of Nashik. Also known as the religious capital of Maharashtra, Nashik has many stories of mythology and history. Legend has it that it is the place where Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshmana spent their thirteen year exile, as told in the great epic Ramayana. It is also the place where the great Maratha warrior prince Shivaji was born. Extensive archeological research has been conducted in the Nashik area, and it has indicated that Nashik has been a cradle of civilization dating back to periods before the Stone Age. Its documented history establishes it as being the capital of the powerful Satvahans dynasty, dating back two-thousand years. When the Mughals came to power in India, they were in awe of the city’s beauty and they named the city Gulshanabad, which means city of scenic beauty. The Mughal emperor Akbar himself was highly impressed by the city’s beauty and spent many years in the city. Once the Mughals were ousted by the mighty Peshwas, they renamed the city to Nasik. In the year 1818, after a long and treacherous battle, the British captured Nashik. Under the British rule, Nashik was turned into a district. Nashik, however, was always in the centre for the battle of independence.

Nashik Today

Nashik is most famous for the Kumbh Mela, which is held once every twelve years. The Kumbh Mela is a religious festival, and results in the largest gatherings of humans in the world. Nashik is one of the four cities chosen to host it. Millions of tourists from within India as well as all over the world come to see this event. Nashik it is famous for its delicious fruits like grapes and strawberries that it exports. It is also a major exporter of roses.

Nashik Attractions and Things-To-Do

Nashik has a lot of places of interest, including beautiful temples and places depicting mythological events. One of the most prominent is the Kalaram Temple built by the Peshwas. It is more than seventy feet high, built in black stone, with four doors that open in all the four directions. Oh, and it has a top made of thirty-two tons of gold!Another temple worth a mention is the Naroshankar temple, which was built in the eighteenth century. With its eleven foot fortifications and huge umbrellas surrounding it on four sides, it makes one of the most beautiful temples of India. Sita Gumpha is one of the major attractions of the city. It is a cave where, legend has it, that Ravana the evil king of Lanka, kidnapped Lord Rama’s wife Sita. You can enter the cave with a small ladder hung inside. Another place that is worth visiting is the Ramkund, which is a tank Lord Rama used to bathe in. It is believed to have magical powers capable of absolving any sins you have, if you were to bathe in it. In Nashik you will also be able to find the Indian Institute of Numismatic Studies, a great coin museum known as built in 1980. It is one of the best of its kind in Asia. With exhibits from all ages of time, it is definitely worth a visit.

Nashik Tours and Excursions

One popular Nashik excursion is the fifty kilometers trip to Shirdi, which is another very holy place in India. Shirdi was the home of one of India’s most famous saints, Sai Baba. Shirdi is a very popular draw for foreigners and Indians alike. You can also travel about thirty kilometers to the holy city of Trimbak, where you can see the famous Trimbakeshwar temple. Unfortunately, only Hindus are allowed in the temple. Or, you can travel down the Nashik-Pune highway to see the Infant Jesus Shrine. A popular fair is held once a year in February at this curch. If you’re into bird watching, you can always head to the Nandur Madhmeshwar Bird Sanctuary. With over two-hundred-and-fifty species of birds, this ten-thousand hectare sanctuary is a magnificent experience. Another trip, if you’re up for it, is a hundred-and-eighty kilometer trip to India’s answer to New York, Mumbai.

Nashik Shopping

The main visitors of this city are religious pilgrims, so the markets pay more attention to their needs. So, it is one of the best places to buy items of religious significance little bronze statues and beaded necklaces. The city is a good place for jewelry lovers, as the prices are reasonable.

Nashik Cuisine

Due to thriving Nashik tourism, the city has a number of multi-cuisine restaurants. Don’t forget to try chivda, a snack that is a speciality of Nashik.

Nashik Nightlife

Nashik is a city of great religious importance to India, so there are very few pubs or nightclubs here. Your best bet for a drink is the decent bar the Hotel Panchvati. If you really, really want to party, though, you could always make the one-hundred-eighty mile trip to Mumbai.

Nashik Climate

With warm summers, the best time to come to Nashik is the winters.

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